Detroit Lions: 5 Players Who Need to Step Up in Week 12

The Detroit Lions need every active player to step up in order to beat the Green Bay Packers in Week 12.

But in reality there are five players who must take their game to another level for the Lions to beat the NFL's final unbeaten team.

The Lions have a tough schedule the rest of the season and are going to have to battle for a Wild Card playoff spot.

What better way to build momentum for that journey than to beat the Super Bowl champions on Thanksgiving?

Let's look at the five guys Detroit needs to step up this week in the biggest way.

5. Stefan Logan

Every week I lament the Lions' return game and this week is no different.

Stefan Logan must become a factor for Detroit to compete with Green Bay.

The Lions have lacked a running game all season. While Kevin Smith may have bucked that trend last week, Detroit would be greatly benefited if Logan could give them decent field position once in awhile.

Logan's longest kick return this season is for 32 yards, and his longest punt return was for a mere 20 yards.

The Lions have a great passing attack but having to go 80 yards to start every drive is a tall order. Especially when you are trying to keep up with the Packers' offense.

4. Matthew Stafford

Matthew Stafford threw five touchdown passes last week. Yet he still needs to elevate his game against the Packers to be successful.

Stafford threw two early interceptions in that game against the Carolina Panthers. Repeating that against Green Bay will likely put Detroit into a hole they are unable to climb out of.

Giving Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense free possessions will quickly take the crowd out of the game and remove any momentum the Lions may begin with.

What Stafford and the Lions offense must do is attack the Packers through the air without making bad decisions.

Green Bay has the 31st ranked passing defense in the NFL, surprisingly low for an undefeated football team.

Stafford does not need to improve on the five touchdowns he passed for last week, but he must take better care of the football early in the game.

3. Gunther Cunningham

I realize Gunther Cunningham is a defensive coordinator and not a player, but this week he needs to step up just as much as anyone on the Lions roster.

Cunningham needs to develop a game plan to slow down the best offense in the NFL. 

So far no one has been able to do it, but the Packers are not invincible.

Their strength comes almost singularly from Aaron Rodgers and the passing game. Like the Lions, their rushing attack ranks in the bottom third of the league.

Cunningham must design packages to pressure Rodgers and get the ball out of his hand quickly.

Easier said than done to be sure, but the Lions have better defensive linemen at their disposal than most teams in the league.

2. Calvin Johnson

Calvin Johnson does not need to step up because he has been playing terrible.

Rather he needs to bring his A-game because Detroit will need to lean on their best offensive weapon in order to beat the defending Super Bowl champions.

Admittedly, Johnson's numbers have certainly slowed from the beginning of the season. In fact, he has only found the end zone twice in the Lions' last five games.

Last week Stafford threw five touchdowns to other receivers, so it did not really matter that Johnson did not add to his touchdown numbers.

But this week the Lions need every player to fire on all cylinders and an early Johnson touchdown could absolutely ignite the Ford Field faithful.

1. Ndamukong Suh

Where in the world is Ndamukong Suh?

Suh is without question a talented player, but his presence seems to be declining as the season wears on.

The former Nebraska Cornhusker has not had a sack since Week 7 against the Atlanta Falcons and he has just five solo tackles over the last three weeks.

Granted, Suh often demands a double team so his impact is not always felt on the stat sheet. I understand that, but this is a Thanksgiving Day game with serious importance.

Suh can show the country that his bad boy image is not just because of his antics when plays end, but because of the havoc he wreaks when the ball is snapped.